𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑺𝒊𝒏 18+ | Standalone | The Kensington Series

chapter 42 : i made my choice

The Kensington family's legacy was on the brink of change, and everyone knew it. Trevor was ready to walk away, Gwen was finding her own place in the world helping behind the shadows- she was always the brains of the operation, and Esmeralda was coming to terms with her broken heart. And as Caleb positioned himself to take control, he would finally achieve the power he'd always craved.

But at what cost?

As Caleb looked out over the city, his expression hardening, he knew there was no turning back. He would claim the legacy, become the man he'd fought so hard to be. But the shadow of Esmeralda's absence haunted him, a reminder of the life he could never have—the one person he'd lost forever in his pursuit of power.

And as the city lights flickered in the distance, Caleb whispered to himself, "I made my choice. Now, I'll live with it.

Esme hadn't seen Caleb in days, and the ache of his absence seemed to pulse in her chest. She threw herself into her classes and family commitments, hoping it would numb the pain. But everywhere she went, memories of him clung to her, lingering like a shadow she couldn't escape.

Meanwhile, Caleb had thrown himself into preparations to solidify his role in the Kensington family's empire. Yet, even as he sharpened his focus on every strategy and move, he found his thoughts drifting back to Esme. He could still picture the way she'd looked at him, the hurt in her eyes that pierced deeper than he cared to admit.

One late evening, Esme was working in her room when she got a text from Caleb. Her heart stopped as she read it.

Caleb: Can we talk? It's important.

Her pulse quickened. She typed a response and hit send before she could change her mind.

Esme: Where?

Caleb: Meet me at the park. The one we used to go to after school.

Esme slipped out of the house, her mind racing with questions and emotions she hadn't yet fully understood. When she reached the park, Caleb was standing under the soft glow of a streetlight, his figure silhouetted against the darkening sky. He turned when he heard her approach, his gaze softening as he took her in.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Caleb broke the silence.

"I couldn't stop thinking about you, Esme." His voice was low, raw. "Even when I tried."

Esme swallowed, her heart pounding. "Then why did you push me away?"

Caleb looked down, guilt shadowing his features. "Because I thought that if I could make myself believe that ambition was more important than you, I'd be able to let you go." He shook his head. "But it hasn't worked. You're still here, and I don't know how to get rid of that."

She looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if you don't want to get rid of it?"

A flicker of hope passed over his face, quickly replaced by caution. "We're not supposed to be together, Esme. Not in the way I want. Not with the lives we have."

Esme stepped closer, determined. "Caleb, I don't care about any of that. All I care about is that you make me feel like no one else ever has. And I can't pretend that doesn't matter."

He closed his eyes, and she could see the struggle in his expression. When he opened them again, his gaze was steady, intense. "Then maybe we stop pretending. Maybe we face what we feel, together."

Esme hadn't stopped smiling since that night in the park. Every stolen glance across a crowded room, every touch they shared in passing—it was electric, something alive, growing between them with each passing day.

Their meetings were unpredictable, fleeting, yet full of intensity. Caleb would catch her eye at family gatherings, a quiet signal that sent a thrill through her, as if they were conspiring in something beautiful and forbidden. When the coast was clear, he'd grab her hand and pull her away from the chatter and bright lights, leading her down quiet hallways or into rooms where only shadows bore witness.

One evening, they were at a family dinner. Caleb had stayed distant, careful not to give anything away. But Esme felt his eyes on her the entire time, sending shivers through her with every glance. The wait was agonizing, and she knew he felt it too.

After dinner, she slipped away from the table, finding her way to a quiet study at the end of the hall. Moments later, Caleb joined her, closing the door softly behind him. She looked up as he leaned against the door, his dark gaze drinking her in.

"You looked stunning tonight," he whispered, stepping toward her.

Her heart skipped as he drew closer, his presence overwhelming in the dim room. She couldn't help but smile. "You didn't say a word to me all night."

"Had to play it cool," he replied, a smirk curling his lips. "But it was torture."

Before she could respond, his hands were on her, pulling her close as his mouth found hers in a deep, hungry kiss. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he pressed her against the wall, his body warm and strong against hers. They both knew they had minutes, maybe seconds, but every second felt worth it.

Another time, he pulled her into a hidden alcove in the garden. The moonlight filtered through the branches, casting silvery shadows over them as they stood together, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. He held her hand, tracing patterns on her skin as they talked in hushed voices, sharing secrets and dreams they'd never voiced to anyone else.

"Sometimes I think about running away from all of this," he confessed, looking up at the night sky. "From the legacy, from the family expectations. Just... starting over."

She studied his face, seeing a vulnerability there that few people ever saw. "Where would you go?"

"Someplace quiet. The mountains, maybe." He looked down at her, his gaze softening. "And I'd take you with me."

She squeezed his hand, her voice a whisper. "I'd go with you."

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, imagining a life far from the weight of their family names.

On another stolen afternoon, he found her in the empty library, where she was studying for a test. She'd almost forgotten he was supposed to be there, but the soft sound of the door closing drew her attention. She looked up to find him watching her, his eyes dark with something that made her pulse quicken.

"You shouldn't be here," she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady as he crossed the room to where she sat.

"Couldn't help myself," he murmured, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered, tracing her jawline. "I missed you."

Her cheeks flushed as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the warmth of his touch, the gentle urgency in his kiss. In that quiet library, they lost themselves in each other, letting go of everything except the thrill of being together.

Their moments together were fleeting, snatched from the demands of their families and their complicated world. They laughed in whispers, held hands in darkened rooms, and shared kisses that were always too short, too brief, leaving them wanting more. They existed together in those stolen moments, hidden from the world, belonging only to each other.

And as they navigated the secrecy of their growing love, each shared glance and hidden touch solidified what they already knew: no matter what stood in their way, no one could keep them apart.